If you’re like many homeowners in our area, you are likely using a gas-powered furnace to heat your home each winter. Gas furnaces are great options for most homeowners around here. Today’s models have a much higher efficiency rating than those of even a decade ago, with the highest AFUE rating (Annual Fuel Utilization Ratio) being 98%.
Efficiency is one thing though. It’s great, but what you really want is for your furnace to work safely. This isn’t to say that that they are inherently dangerous—they’re not. But if you don’t take care of your gas furnace properly—with routine annual maintenance and timely repairs, then the system can become dangerous.
The most common culprit of an unsafe furnace is a damaged heat exchanger. This is more likely to happen in an aging furnace versus one that’s under 7-10 years old but it’s still important to be aware of.